Following yesterday’s Super Bowl of epic proportions, we bring you a famed range of wines from a former all-pro quarterback. Doubleback was founded by NFL legend, Drew Bledsoe and his wife, Maura. The story completes itself as Drew circled back following his brilliant NFL career. Originally from Walla Walla, he was a star at Walla Walla High School before his illustrious tenure at Washington State University. For many years Drew had visions of starting his own winery for many years and going back to Walla Walla was the perfect choice for him. During his years in the NFL he continued to expand his palate, trying various wines of the world. But there was something special about wines from his home state, as he grew to love the balance of the wines of this region that weren’t old world but also weren’t Napa. It was back in 2007 that Drew returned to Walla Walla to plant his estate vineyard, McQueen on the southern end of the Walla Walla Valley AVA.
It has now been more than fifteen years that Doubleback was born and in 2008 Drew began focusing on using top estate fruit to make incredible Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley. He needed a top class winemaker and connected with childhood friend and superstar winemaker, Chris Figgins, of Leonetti Cellar, who served as consulting winemaker until Josh McDaniels assumed the role in 2015. Josh is one of the finest talents in the state. The wines that he has made are consistently great, year after year and he has a fantastic winemaking team behind him.
I think for my palate the finest Doubleback Cab that has been yet produced, the 2021 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) is a simply marvelous effort that is already drinking beautifully now. I also am enamored by the 2021 Doubleback ‘Reserve’ Red Wine (OB, 99) which is massive and intense, with incredible aging potential. Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.doubleback.com/ and here are my reviews of the gorgeous new 2024 spring release wines by Doubleback.
2021 Bledsoe Family Winery ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2021 Bledsoe Family Winery ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes up really inky in the glass. This is concentrated and beautifully textured wine that is standing tall at the entry level. Dark currants, Turkish coffee grounds, tar and shades of garrigue all beautifully meld together on the palate. Full-bodied and shining brightly even at the two year mark, enjoy this beautiful wine for another ten to twelve years — or potentially more. Drink 2024-2035- 93
2022 Doubleback Merlot- Unlike the 2019 bottling, this is not a 100% varietal Doubleback Merlot as this blends in 8% Cabernet Franc. Sourced from the McQueen and Schafer Vineyards, the wine was stored in 60% new French oak for sixteen months before bottling. Right away this offers alluring Morello cherry and Asian spices alongside roasted figs and espresso ground flavors. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and fantastic sense of weight. Mouth-watering acidity greets you, alongside rich dark fruits, with refined tannins and a silky mouthfeel. Finishing long with chocolate, sage and dense dark fruits, this is remarkably evolved considering its youth. Try to give this an hour of air prior to consuming and enjoy over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2024-2038- 95
2019 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon- A total stunner, the 2021 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon is a ultra-refined blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Malbec and smaller portions Merlot and Petit Verdot that was sourced from the McQueen, LaFore, and Schafer vineyards. This was stored in a combination of 74% new French. Oak, Italian concrete and neutral oak barrels before bottling in August 2023. Remarkably perfumed once poured, this offers espresso grounds, tar and sagebrush notes on the nose with suggestions of graphite and freshly tilled loamy soils. The palate is soft and refined with fantastic power and flavor density. Firm tannins frame a gorgeous core of black fruits alongside Turkish coffee, anise and creme de cassis, this is one of the finest editions of this wine ever produced. If savoring in its full-throttle youth, give this an hour or two in the decanter to fully unwind. This total heavyhitter of a wine will easily live on for another twenty years. Drink 2024-2045- 98
2021 Doubleback ‘Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Reserve’ Red Wine is a monumental effort from this great vintage for red wines in Washington State. Aged in all new French oak, this has a large portion of Merlot (14%) blended in, as well as 7% Malbec. Inky in the glass, this is heady and opulent on the mouth, loaded with creme de violette and creosote notes alongside pencil lead, black currant jelly and suggestions of Black Forest cake. Wait for the exceedingly long finish with black and blue fruits and stony minerals. Dazzling in its underlying finesse and flavor density, this flirts with perfection and is truly one of a kind stuff that will age for at least another twenty years to come. Drink 2025-2050- 99